Written by GM Mauricio Flores RiosGrandmaster and author of Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide

The Opera Game

Morphy vs. Duke Karl & Count Isouard, Paris 1858

Paul Morphy 1–0 Duke Karl of Brunswick & Count Isouard

Paris Opera House 1858 · ECO C41 · Philidor Defense

Play through the game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Bg5 b5 10. Nxb5 cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Rxd7 Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+ Nxb8 17. Rd8# 1-0

Bring these ideas into your own games

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